A reality check for plant design

Wiley’s Brett Wiskar explores the benefits of using AR and VR in the early stages of food facility design.

When considering the design of a greenfield or brownfield facility, did you ever stop and think; ‘I wish I could stand in this design and see how it feels.

I wish I could have a clearer idea of process flow, equipment size and what might need to be changed’? That technology is here, ready and available now.

Design and engineering company, Wiley has long been using and exploring the realms of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) and the best ways to use these tools in everyday business.

In fact, we were one of the first companies in Australia to bring over a pair of Microsoft HoloLens from the USA to have a hands-on perspective of what the future might look like.

Historically, design has been navigated with 2D plans, a tool many people still struggle to understand and visualise. The industry has progressed to 3D modelling but even this still doesn’t allow for effective collaboration around nuance of the design.

The creative side of the human brain is extremely sensitive to visual stimulation and that’s why AR and VR create such a giant impact.

We have found that when we collaborate with a client using AR or VR to immerse them into the future of their facility their decision-making process becomes easier. This technology enables our clients to quite literally walk around inside a factory that hasn’t been built yet.

They can foresee design issues, safety hazards and opportunities to improve the design. Moreover, we immerse operational professionals in to the facilities at the design stage which allows engineering of a more human-centred and productive solution long before a sod has even been turned.

When interacting with clients who are deep in the design process, being able to see their facility in real time provides the most realistic experience achievable. It enables all stakeholders to be fully engaged, provide feedback and the opportunity to discuss the plans before proceeding.

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